Former UFC Champion Announces He’s Returning To Fighting

The UFC may have lost out on Brock Lesnar as a top-drawing heavyweight following his USADA test failure, but an old rival of his has plans on returning.

Shane Carwin announced on Twitter that he had his manager call UFC matchmaker Joe Silva, noting that he was ready to return to the cage. Carwin last fought five years ago in June 2011 at UFC 131 in a losing effort against Junior dos Santos in what was considered a title eliminator.

Carwin became UFC interim Heavyweight Champion in March 2010 by decimating Frank Mir, before facing off with Brock Lesnar at UFC 116. After dominating the first round, Carwin grew tired and was taken down and submitted midway through the second round. After Lesnar’s return to MMA was announced earlier this year, Carwin threw his name in the hat as a potential opponent.

The 41-year old Carwin officially called it a career in May 2013 after enduring several injuries.

Lesnar and Carwin’s huge stature caused a change in the UFC Heavyweight division for a couple of years, with the likes of Frank Mir also bulking up to try to keep pace. In 2010, Carwin was named by a U.S. prosecutor as one of 22 athletes who received steroids from a criminal drug ring.

By Sean Ross Sapp